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(ModeL) I G. HASHWORTH. BEE ESCAPE FOR HIVES.

N0. 473,284., Patente-dApr. 19, 1892.

WITNESSES /N VE N TOH fi Q. M a JQZsZwo g m ATTORNEYS UNiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRANVILLE H. ASHWVORTH, OF SEDALIA, .MISSOURl, ASSI GNOR OF TVVO- THIRDS TO HENRY B. YVIEMAN AND JOHN J. SHRIKE, OF SAME PLACE.

BEE-ESCAPE FOR H IVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,284, dated April 19, 1892.

Application filed September 14, 1891- Serial No. 405,712. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GRANVILLE H. ASH- WORTH, of Sedalia, in the countyof Pettis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bee-Escapes for Hives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to beehives, and more particularly to an improved escape, whereby the bees are allowed to escape from the storing chamber into the broodchamber, thereby permitting the storingchamber to be removed from the hive and the honey extracted.

The object of my invention is to construct an escape by which a number of bees can pass out at one time, and one which will prevent their return to the storing-chamber.

WVith these objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction of the details and the novel combinations of the various parts, all of which will be fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forminga part of this specification, Figure l is a vertical section of my improved hive, partly in elevation, showing the manner of arranging the escape in the board between the brood and storage chambers. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2,

' Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the case arranged within the opening in the board, a

portion of said case and board being broken away to show the pendent fingers in the escape. Fig. 4. is a perspective View of the escape detached; and Fig. 5 is a detail View of a part of the board, a portion being broken away to show the shape of the opening.

In carrying out my invention I employ a hive composed of a brood-chamber B and a storing-chamber B, said storing-chamber being arranged to receive one or more supers or being of any other suitable construction, said storing-chamber being removable from the brood-chamber. The' hive as thus constructed is similar to an ordinary hive. WVhen it is desired to remove the honey from the storingchamber and it is necessary to have the bees escape therefrom into the brood-chamber, I employ a board A, which is inserted between the brood and storing chambers, said board having a central opening A, in which is secured my improved bee-escape E. One end of the opening A is beveled or cut away upon the upper face of the board, as at C, while at the opposite end of the opening the board is formed with a beveled or undercut portion D upon the under side of the same.

The escape E consists of a case or tube e, rectangular in cross-section, said case or tube being of the same depth as the board A and of a length to fit the opening A. The bottom or lower side of the case is longer than the top or upper side, the projecting sides of the case sloping, as clearly shown. The top or upper side of the case 6 projects beyond the sides of the same, whereby the escape is secured to the board A within the opening A, the sloping sides adjacent to the beveled end O making an enlarged entrance to the case, while the opposite sloping ends rest parallel with the undercut portion D. A transverse rod or bar F is arranged at the end of the case adjacent to the undercut portion D, said bar being secured near the top or upper side of the case, and loosely attached to said bar is a series of pendent guard-fingers F, the free ends of said fingers resting lightly upon the bottom or lower side of the case, whereby they can be easily raised by a bee to permit its passage from the storing to the brood Olltllb ber, but will prevent a passage from the brood to the storing chamber.

From the above it will be readily understood that when it is desired to have the bees escape from the storing-chamber the board A, carrying my improved escape E, isinserted between the storing and brood chambers. The bees thus descending from the storing-chamber will reach the board A, and thence be guided down the incline O to the escape through the case c,and, lifting the guard-fingers F, pass on down into the broodchamber. It will also be noticed that a number of bees can make their escape simultaneously in distinction to those escapes which permit only one bee to escape, and by means of my pendent or gravity guard-fingers it is impossible for a single bee to pass back into the storing-chamber or become fastened in its exit and thus closing the escape.

By means of my improved device the storing-chamber can be cleared of bees in a very short while. After the honey has been re moved and the storing-chamber replaced the board A and escape E are withdrawn, allowing the usual operations of the hive to proceed.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new is 1. The combination, with a board having an opening therein and provided with the beveled end 0 and undercut end D, of the escape arranged in said opening, said escape consisting of a case or tube open at the end adjacent to the end C and provided with a series of pendent guard-fingers at the end ad jacent to the end D, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a board having an opening provided with the beveled ends 0 and D, of the escape arranged in said opening and consisting of a case or tube having sloping ends, the top of which case projects transversely beyond the sides of the same, the

transverse bar secured between the sides near one end of the case or tube, and the pendent guardfingers loosely attached to said bar and adapted to rest normally upon the bottom of the case, substantially as shown and described.

3. As an improved article of manufacture,

an escape comprising a case or tube, the top of which projects transversely beyond the sides of the same, said sides having sloping ends, the transverse bar arranged at one end of case near the top of the same, and a series of pendent guardfingers loosely attached to said bar and resting upon the bottom of the case, substantially as and for the purpose described.

GRANVILLE I'I. ASIIWORTH.

Witnesses.-

HEUY D. BoULL'r,

JACOB Nussnnnenn. 

